News in December

Ants show left bias when exploring new spaces24 December 2014Unlike Derek Zoolander, ants don’t have any difficulty turning left. New research from the University of Bristol, published today in Biology Letters, has found that the majority of rock ants instinctively go left when entering unknown spaces.

Shedding new light on the diet of extinct animals 22 December 2014A study of tooth enamel in mammals living today in the equatorial forest of Gabon could ultimately shed light on the diet of long extinct animals, according to new research from the University of Bristol.

Future hub for nano-engineered materials and devices
22 December 2014The Universities of Bath, Bristol, Sheffield and Strathclyde and their industrial partners have been given funding to develop the UK into a future hub for the manufacture of advanced semiconductor materials.

Vitamin D link to short-sightedness ruled out19 December 2014New findings from the Children of the 90s study at the University of Bristol suggest that children with low levels of vitamin D in their blood are not at increased risk of developing myopia (short-sightedness).

University of Bristol research - world-leading with global impact18 December 2014The Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2014 has ranked Bristol among the UK’s top research universities. Our research is shown to have top quality and major impact on society and the economy, according to this assessment of research at every UK university. REF2014 will decide how around £2 billion in research funding will be allocated each year from 2015-16.

Bristol poverty measurement methods go global17 December 2014Researchers at the universities of Bristol and Cardiff have shown how the process of defining and measuring poverty in low-income countries can be made more democratic.

Nick Talbot, 1977-201417 December 2014Nick Talbot, a Bristol alumnus whose eclectic work as an experimental, alt-rock musician under the name Gravenhurst earned him an international reputation, has died at the age of 37.

Help still needed for Peruvian quest for justice17 December 2014A University of Bristol project which aims to connect the voices of people affected by forced sterilisations in Peru with listeners around the world has almost succeeded in raising the £20,000 needed to develop and expand its work.

PhD student designs and develops revolutionary new tool – the dibber17 December 2014A PhD student from the University of Bristol has designed and developed a hand-held laminating tool, known as the dibber, for use in the layup of advanced composite components. The manual tool could be used by laminators to manufacture composite materials in industries such as aerospace, car and transport.

Students volunteer to make Bristol Greenest Capital16 December 2014Bristol’s universities are joining forces to make an impact of over £1 million on the city’s economy whilst making positive and sustainable environmental changes during Bristol 2015 European Green Capital.

Dr Nandy wins CROP Prize for poverty research11 December 2014Dr Shailen Nandy in the Centre for the Study of Poverty and Social Justice is the joint winner of the Comparative Research Programme on Poverty (CROP) International Studies in Poverty Prize 2014.

Bristol research reveals clues to dementia and Parkinson10 December 2014Researchers based in Bristol and London have uncovered a link between Lewy body diseases like Parkinson’s and the brain changes associated with Alzheimer’s. The findings could help to explain the close relationship between Parkinson’s, more commonly known for causing movement difficulties, and dementia.

Sheena Heyman, 1938-20149 December 2014Sheena Heyman, a cleaner based at Old Park Hill from 1996 to 2004, has died. Liz Lynch, Site Services Manager, offers an appreciation.

New research could help the welfare of working animals9 December 2014With over 42 million horses and 95 per cent of the world’s donkeys found in developing countries, new research could change the health and welfare of millions of working animals in some of the poorest parts of the world.

Exploring the impact of Tasers in the UK8 December 2014Social Scientists have called for a greater comparative analysis of the impact of Tasers used in law enforcement. The next generation of the electric-shock weapon used by police forces in England and Wales is currently under review.

Researchers to use algae to clean up mine water 5 December 2014A ground breaking research project by the GW4 Alliance aims to clean up water from a Cornish tin mine, using algae to harvest the precious heavy metals and produce biofuel at the same time.

‘Yo’ - Dress/Sense winning team announced
4 December 2014A support system to aid cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) has been announced as the winning entry in the Dress/Sense technology competition run by the University of Bristol’s SPHERE project.